startling
adjective
star·tling
ˈstär-tᵊl-iŋ 
ˈstärt-liŋ
: causing fright, surprise, or astonishment
a startling discovery
startlingly
adverb
Examples of startling in a Sentence
Startling new evidence came to light during the trial.
He made a startling discovery.
It is a city of startling contrasts.
Recent Examples on the Web
Floyd’s sincerity, the startling extremity of his concern for the comfort of others, snaps Clark out of his depressed, and depressing, complacency.
—
Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
The five-acre private villa estate offers nine startling low-slung beach villas which sit harmoniously in a coconut grove on an undeveloped stretch of volcanic beach on the northern shores.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
But his startling rejection of a cornerstone theory in biomedical science has mostly been underreported.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026
Ring camera footage captured the startling moment an electric wheelchair burst into flames in a Florida driveway.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for startling
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Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
The five-acre private villa estate offers nine startling low-slung beach villas which sit harmoniously in a coconut grove on an undeveloped stretch of volcanic beach on the northern shores.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
But his startling rejection of a cornerstone theory in biomedical science has mostly been underreported.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026
Ring camera footage captured the startling moment an electric wheelchair burst into flames in a Florida driveway.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for startling
Cite this Entry
“Startling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/startling. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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